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About this blog: I am a native of Alameda County, grew up in Pleasanton and currently live in the house I grew up in that is more than 100 years old. I spent 39 years in the daily newspaper business and wrote a column for more than 25 years in add... (More)

About this blog: I am a native of Alameda County, grew up in Pleasanton and currently live in the house I grew up in that is more than 100 years old. I spent 39 years in the daily newspaper business and wrote a column for more than 25 years in addition to writing editorials for more than 15 years. I have served as a director of many non-profits in the Valley and the broader Bay Area and currently serve as chair of Teen Esteem and on the advisory board of Shepherd?s Gate. I also served as founding chair of Heart for Africa and have travelled to Africa seven times to serve on mission trips. My wife, Betty Gail, has taught at Amador Valley High (from where we both graduated) since 1981. She and I both graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, as did both of my parents and my three siblings. Given that Cal tradition, our daughter went south to the University of Southern California and graduated with a degree in international relations. Since graduation, she has taken three mission trips and will be serving in the Philippines for nine months starting in September. (Hide)

Affordable housing spotlighted in the Tri-Valley this week

Uploaded: May 15, 2018

The Tri-Valley will be spotlight for its affordable housing progress this week as the East Bay celebrates affordable housing week.

Kottinger Gardens will be formally dedicated Wednesday at the new senior housing complex. Pleasanton officials and developer MidPen will host the festivities. It comes a week after the Pleasanton Gardens board formally voted to cease operations after its former residents moved into the new complex last fall. Construction is underway on the 52 units that will replace the 40 units that were nearly 50-years-old.

On Thursday, the Tri-Valley Affordable Housing Committee will take people on a six-hour tour that includes stops in Dublin, Danville, Pleasanton, San Ramon and Livermore. Kottinger Gardens will be one stop. The tour also will stop at Valor Crossings, which has rental housing for veterans and their families. The highlighted projects provide rental housing.

The affordable housing celebration follows the city’s observance of 25 years of the senior center on Sunol Boulevard. The senior center and the library were the first the public facilities built once city revenues started soaring with the business developments in Pleasanton.

Hacienda Business Park and the other parks were planned and began construction in the early 1980s. That followed the opening of Stoneridge Shopping Center in 1981. When serious money started pouring in, the city was able to build the public facilities with the senior center opening in 1993.

It has served the community well—it’s the only city-owned gathering space that can hold 300 people for a sit-down meal.

The Convoy of Hope set up shop at the Alameda County Fairgrounds for a Day of Hope for people who could use some help on May 5.

Over about five hours, 1,1,25 volunteers from the valley (spearheaded by seven churches) served 825 “Guests of Honor.” All of the guests received a meal (as did volunteers) and went home with groceries, family portraits and haircuts—all provided by volunteers. In addition to the churches, 40 other non-profits and businesses participated.

Services also included dental and health checks including early detection for breast cancer, a play area with games, face painting and other activities for kids. A special area served veterans.

Convoy of Hope travels around the country to partner with churches and other organizations and businesses to serve guests in need.

A note: I served as chair of the Pleasanton Gardens board for six years and volunteered at the Convoy of Hope.